Author: healthadmin

In about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies, the neural tube, an important nervous system structure, fails to close properly. Georgia Tech physicists have uncovered the physics that cause neural tube closure during the early stages of pregnancy, helping to understand why this happens. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and colleagues at University College London (UCL) used computer models to show how forces generated by cells during early development physically pull the neural tube shut, like a purse string. The discovery provides new insight into a critical process that, when disrupted, can cause severe birth defects such as spina bifida.…

An analysis of causes of death for children and teenagers in the UK from 2019 to 2024 shows the average age of young stabbing victims is now 14 years old, published online. Journal of Emergency Medicine. Black people are 13 times more likely to be stabbed to death than white people, and children living in the most deprived areas of the country are seven times more likely to die from their wounds than children living in the wealthiest areas. Findings also show that experiencing domestic violence, violence, and adversity during life is also common. Serious youth violence and knife-related deaths…

Tea is one of the most popular drinks on earth. Billions of people brew this beer every day without really thinking about what goes into their mug. When making tea, most of us focus on steeping time, water temperature, or whether we prefer green to black. But a recent review of 19 scientific studies raised a question that most tea drinkers have never thought about: Are tiny plastic particles getting into the cup?The answer was not a simple yes or no. Rather, this study suggests that plastic particles can get into tea in several different ways, and that…

Just over two years ago, Highmark partnered with Spring Health to launch a new mental health platform that gives members easier access to critical services. The partners are now offering to investigate how the program has worked for their members. In a paper published last month, Highmark researchers reported that by 2025, patients would wait less than two days on average to access an appointment. Our analysis shows that Spring’s platform was built directly into Highmark’s membership app, and that integration was a key part of making the program work. Spring can build a personalized approach because members can easily…

Report supported by the Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder. Santa Fe, New Mexico – “Severe.” “Deadly.” “Disastrous.” “Challenging.” “Record lows.” Officials at the Rio Grande Compact Commission’s annual meeting on Friday consulted a thesaurus to explain the status of the river, which flows from southwestern Colorado. Compact signatory states Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas and federal agencies operating along the river announced their 2026 outlook at the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe. The three states signed the Rio Grande Compromise in 1938 to resolve disputes over water rights along the Rio Grande, from its headwaters…

Weightlifting, whether you lift heavier weights for fewer reps or lighter weights for more reps, can be a powerful way for older women to improve memory and mental health. Recent clinical trials have Affective Disorders Journalhighlights exercise as a highly effective non-drug treatment for protecting the aging mind. The results of this study reveal that systematic physical exercise has significant psychological benefits. As people age, they routinely face a gradual decline in various physical abilities, along with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Women in particular often have increased vulnerability to depression and anxiety later in life. This increased risk…

Angus Cheng covers all issues broadly related to cancer, including medicines, policy, science and stocks. She joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at NPR and NPR affiliate stations. His work has been recognized with the national Edward R. Murrow Award and the June L. Biedler Award for Cancer Journalism, among others. You can access Angus.08 on Signal.Damian Garde covers the global pharmaceutical industry as a general live and feature journalism reporter and contributes to STAT’s industry-leading events.You’re reading AACR in 30, the web version of STAT’s pop-up newsletter. This is your guide to what’s happening at the…

State regulators held hours of public comment Monday on a proposed plan to address PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in North Carolina’s waterways. A hearing room filled with residents, scientists and medical professionals voiced their frustration and concerns about the proposal. The North Carolina Environmental Control Commission’s proposal would require certain industries and wastewater utilities to monitor PFAS emissions and develop plans to reduce pollution. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used in products such as nonstick cookware and firefighting foam. These are not easily broken down and are associated with cancer and other health risks. Critics argue that the proposal…

Hippocratic AI on Thursday announced two new artificial intelligence tools aimed at improving access to clinical care and assisting nurses at the bedside, touting the platform as an industry first. The first of the Palo Alto, California-based startup’s new developments is AI Front Door, an omnichannel agent-based voice AI tool that is available to patients at any time. Agents can schedule appointments, address billing issues, and other tasks based on each interaction. They can also contact employers and arrange referrals. Hippocratic AI Chief Product Officer Vishal Parikh said in a statement that the agent is powered by 31 tuned large-scale…

People tend to stereotype sexual minorities and black men as unusually young, driven by common cultural beliefs that these groups lack traditional values. This overlapping set of perceptions works to portray certain demographics as unique threats to social order. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. In the early 1970s, sociologist Stanley Cohen popularized the term “folk devils” to describe groups targeted by media-driven moral panics. Cohen analyzed how dominant institutions focused on youth subcultures and turned them into symbols of social decline. Through these depictions, young people were portrayed as actively rejecting established norms and…